Before this season began, ESPNís Ron Jaworski, who as an NFL quarterback took the Philadelphia Eagles to the Super Bowl, raised eyebrows by rating the Lionsí Matthew Stafford as only the 14th-best at the position in the NFL.

It seemed skewed. Stafford threw for more than 5,000 yards and 41 touchdowns in 2011. It was one of the best seasons statistically ever for an NFL QB. They werenít meaningless stats. The Lions secured their first playoff appearance since 1999 largely because of Stafford.

Essentially he is saying Stafford, the first overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, while possessing a rocket for an arm, is not better than half the starting quarterbacks in the league.

Advertisement

A little harsh?

Jaworski pointed out fundamental flaws by Stafford, while rating him behind the likes of Tony Romo, Jay Cutler, Josh Freeman and Phillip Rivers - among others.

Entering this season, Stafford appeared to be on the cusp of joining the big boys at the top of such lists - Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers.

The Lions are 4-9. Stafford will likely throw for roughly the same amount of yards in 2012 as he did in 2011, but with three games remaining, has thrown just 17 touchdown passes.

He could shatter the NFL mark for most passing attempts in a season (if Stafford averages 32 passes per game the last three weeks he will top the NFL record of 691 by New Englandís Drew Bledsoe in 1994). However, a common gauge for winning and losing, from the NFL down through high school football, is yards per pass attempt. Itís considered by many, myself included, to be the second-most important stat behind only turnovers. Stafford ranks 21st in the NFL in yards per pass attempt. He is also the 21st rated passer in the NFL this season, sandwiched between Carson Palmer and Sam Bradford, who currently define average at the QB position in the NFL.

Before this season, there wasnít much question Stafford presented a winning pedigree. Last year, he rallied the Lions from behind several times in stunning fashion. Even earlier this season, when he was struggling mightily with consistency, Stafford led the Lions on spectacular comebacks over the Rams, Eagles and Seahawks. He has lost his touch during the Lions current five-game losing streak. Itís been other quarterbacks - Houstonís Matt Schaub, Green Bayís Aaron Rodgers and Indianapolis rookie Andrew Luck - who have led comebacks against the Lionsí depleted secondary.

Where Jaworskiís placement of Stafford 14th at the start of the season appeared preposterous, it seems generous based on most statistical evidence outside the realm of total passing yardage this season.

Where it looked like before Stafford was on track to become the next Tom Brady, there are questions raised about whether he will be the next Tony Romo instead - some great moments, often tremendous statistics, but too many bad moments and not enough wins.

While it is a fair question to ponder, my opinion of Stafford hasnít changed. I still believe he is capable of leading the Lions deep into the playoffs and perhaps to a Super Bowl title. I think he is an elite quarterback in the making. I see his struggles this season as footballís version of Tigersí pitcher Justin Verlander in 2008. Sports at the highest level are never a snap - even for the most gifted athletes. Such struggles are inevitable. Verlander had a 11-17 record with a 4.84 ERA in Ď08. Like the Lions this season, the Tigers failed miserably compared to expectations that year.

Verlander has been the best pitcher in baseball since because he grew from the adversity rather wilted because of it.

I would not be surprised if Stafford follows a similar pattern and learns, rather than is ruined, by this dreadful Lionsí season.

Pat Caputo is a senior sports reporter and a columnist for Journal Register Newspapers. Contact him at pat.caputo@oakpress.com. Read his blog at theoaklandpress.com. You can follow him on Twitter @patcaputo98